Stand up to Hate ahead of Holocaust Memorial day. (1)

As Holocaust Memorial Day approaches, St Helens residents are being urged to show their contempt for hate crime - by signing an online pledge.

Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27, 2015 is about remembering the victims and those whose lives were changed beyond recognition by the Holocaust, Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia as well as ongoing atrocities throughout the world today.

The day itself marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and 2015 also sees the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia.

St.Helens Library Service will be holding an exhibition as part of the Holocaust Memorial commemorations looking back in history at Nazi Persecution and the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
The exhibition, taking place from Tuesday 3rd February - Friday 6th February in Central Library, will highlight the fundamental importance of continuing to work towards ending acts of hatred and discrimination. 

Hate crime is any offence or incident committed against individuals, groups and communities because of who they are.  It is an act motivated by someone's prejudice towards another person because of his or her age, disability, gender identity, race, religion or belief or sexuality.

A range of local agencies supports the St Helens No Place for Hate Campaign, and individuals who all signed a pledge help tackle hate crime in St Helens.
St Helens Council will be showing its full support by flying the No Place for Hate flag above the Town Hall.

St.Helens Community Safety Partnership wants to see as many people as possible using the opportunity to challenge discrimination and the language of hatred - and commit to using words reflecting the dignity of others.

St Helens Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing, Planning and Community Safety, Councillor Richard McCauley, said: " The events of the Holocaust challenge us all to look at our behaviour towards others and to learn from the lessons of the past.

"We're not at risk of genocide in the UK, but discrimination, racism and hatred has not ended and we will continue to use the St.Helens No Place for Hate campaign to raise awareness and encourage victims to come forward. I urge people to show their support and sign the pledge."

If you wish to sign the pledge, go to /pledges/hate-crime-pledge/
If you've have been victim to, or have witnessed hate crime, you can report it to Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625, or Merseyside Police on 101
For more information visit www.safersthelens.org.uk